Lakeside Murder by Katherine Fletcher

The Thursday Book Club Mysteries · Book One

Lakeside Murder

The body looks like an accident. Dot Halstead knows what doesn't fit.

When a death inside Kettle Creek's Historical Society points to an obvious suspect, four longtime friends follow the money, the records, and the details everyone else has dismissed.

Coming September 22, 2026

Preorder on Amazon

The ebook will be exclusive to Amazon for retail and available in Kindle Unlimited at release, with library distribution through Draft2Digital. The standard paperback and large-print edition will be distributed widely through IngramSpark.

Meet the Thursday Book Club

Four friends. Four ways of seeing.

They have spent years reading mysteries together. A real case reveals exactly why they make such a formidable team.

Dot Halstead

A retired teacher who reads a room as carefully as a page—and notices what has been moved.

Margaret Gartner

A former banker and CPA who follows money that does not add up.

June

A former lawyer who knows which records matter and which questions have not been asked.

Beverly

A warm observer who knows people answer more freely over coffee and something freshly baked.

The Case

Kettle Creek has given them a real mystery.

Craig Marsh, chairman of the Historical Society's fiftieth-anniversary committee, was skilled at making enemies. Five days before his death, he argued publicly with his brother Dennis over valuable lakefront property.

When suspicion settles on Dennis, the police appear to have their answer. Dot refuses to let Kettle Creek's certainty condemn a man she has known for thirty years.

What the friends uncover is a trail of questionable anniversary payments, contested land, and secrets buried inside the town's official history.

Someone planned Craig's death and expected Dennis to take the blame.

Watercolor view of the lakeside town of Kettle Creek
Beverly's molasses cookies with tea

In Kettle Creek, a plate of cookies can open more doors than an official question. Beverly's are soft in the center, warmly spiced, and sturdy enough to carry to a Thursday afternoon meeting.

From Beverly's Kitchen

Beverly's Molasses Cookies

Makes about 24 cookies

Ingredients

  • 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup unsulphured molasses
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar for rolling

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.
  3. In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, molasses, and vanilla.
  4. Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the butter mixture until a soft dough forms.
  5. Shape the dough into 1½-inch balls. Roll each ball in granulated sugar and place about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
  6. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, until the tops are crackled and the edges are set. The centers should still look slightly soft.
  7. Cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

A Reader-Club Bonus

Open the Kettle Creek case files.

While Dot and the Thursday Book Club work their first real investigation, you can try five spoiler-free mysteries of your own.

  • Five complete word-search mystery cases
  • A solved practice case and clear instructions
  • Answer key and solved grids included
  • Designed for reading or printing at home
Download the free puzzle book

Digital PDF · Personal use only · Puzzle scenarios are separate from the novel's canon.

A Letter from Kettle Creek

Come to the next meeting.

The four-sleuth field guide went to Katherine's reader list first. Join for the free prequel, The Missing Letter, plus book news and the next Kettle Creek extra.